Research Profile

Research Projects

Research

Dr Jan Ramaekers has been co-promoter and principal investigator of a number of PhD research programs at the Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University. His work focuses on behavioral toxicology of drugs and combines methods from psychopharmacology, forensic toxicology and neuroscience to determine drug induced changes in human performance. Example of research lines include:

Neurocognition in cannabis users: This line of research focuses on THC induced neurocognitive deficits and susceptibility for cannabis dependence as a function of cannabis use history, genetic variation in dopamine metabolism and cannabis cue exposure.

Neuropsychopharmacology of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): This work focuses on cognitive impairments and pro-social effects of MDMA during intoxication and the neuropharmacology underlying MDMA induced changes in behavior.

Impaired motorists: A range of placebo controlled studies have been conduced to assess drug induced driving impairment as determined in on-the-road driving tests and neurocognitive tasks. The work provides a strong scientific rationale for international harm classification systems of medicinal drug effects on driver safety and per se legislation for driving under the influence of drugs.